Clasp for bracelets



April 17, 1951 A- ROUNDS 2,549,016

CLASP FOR BRACELETS Filed Feb. 16, 1949 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 y CLASP Fon BRACELETS Gale A. Rounds, Rapid City, S. Dak.,fassignor of one-half to Ivan E. Landstrom, Rapid City,

S. Dak.

Application February 16, 1949,'seria1No. 76,829

My invention relates to clasps Vfor bracelets, wrist watch straps, etc., and has for an object to provide a clasp which may be positively locked in closed position.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a clasp which requires manual manipulation tov open and which automatically becomes latched upon closing of the bracelet.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the clasp with a bcdy having a web and spaced flanges issuing outwardly therefrom and with an inner link pivoted to one end of the body and with an outer link pivoted to the inner link and in providing latching means including a catch extending through one of the flanges. Y

A feature of the invention resides in providing the outer link with anges adapted to be disposed adjacent the flanges of the body and in providing the body flange with a closed slot and the link flange withan open-ended slot adapted to register with a portion of the closed slot and in which the catch is movable.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the closed slot in the form of a bayonet with a longitudinal leg and a transverse leg and forming a shoulder therebetween, and in arranging the open ended slot to register with the longitudinal leg of the closed slot.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing resilient means for urging the catch against said shoulder and toward the end of the longitudinal leg.

An object of the invention resides in providing a lug on the outer link adapted to engage said catch and move the same out of the transverse leg and into the longitudinal leg when the parts are brought into closing position to cause the catch to enter the open-ended slot and latch the parts in closed position.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the latch from resilient material and in attaching the same to the anges of the body and in forming a loop on said latch between said catch and the locality of attachment of said latch to one of said flanges.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the flanges of the body with oppositely disposed recesses and-in forming the latch with ears adapted to enter said recesses and to hold the latch assembled relative .to the body.

A feature of the invention resides in providing the latch with another loop between the ears thereof for urging said ears into said recesses.`

Other objects of the invention reside in the Claims. (Cl. ,Z4-71) novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of -construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a clasp for bracelets i1- lustrating the clasp in open position and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with a portion of the body broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the clasp closed, said view being drawn to a still greater scale.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with portions thereof broken away. v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clasp with portions of the same broken away.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the latch of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of latch. l

Clasps ordinarily used for bracelets have a latch operable from the face of theclaps and which readily are accidentally disengaged by coming in contact with various objects so that unintentional opening of the clasp frequently occurs. The instant invention overcomes this disadvantage by avoiclinga construction in which the operating member for the latch projects laterally from the clasp.

My invention comprises a body Il! constructed of sheet metal and having a web II with flanges I2 and I3 extending outwardly therefrom. Pivotally connected to one end of the body Il! is an inner link Ill which has eyes I5 and Iii at the ends of the same. A pintle Il passes thru the eyes I5 and the flanges l2 and I3 and pivotally connects the link I4 to the body IU. In conjunction with link I4, an outer link I8 is employed which has a web I9 and flanges 2I and 22 extending outwardly therefrom. The link I8 is pivoted to the link I 4 by means of a pintle 23 which extends through the eye I6 and through the anges 2| and 22. The end of the link I8 has a iixed connector 24 on the same and to which one end of the bracelet 25 is attached. The other end of the bracelets is attached to an adjustable connector 26 which permits lengthening or shortening the bracelet to fit the wrist of the user. Such construction, forming no particular feature of the invention and being well known in the art, has not been shown in detail in the drawings. It will be noted that the body Il] and the links I4 and I8 are curved to :tit the curvature of the wrist of the user.y When the parts are foldedto close the clasp, the flanges versely disposed loop 33. By means of this con.-

struction the bars 28 and 29 may be SprungtO- gether. On the bars 28 and 29 are formed ears Y 34 which are adapted to be receivedi-in'recesses 35 in the flanges I2 and I3 of thebody Itl.1` The bars 28 and 23 are sprung together to force said ears into the recesses 35 and when-.received therein are held in position therein through the resiliency of the loops 3l, 32 and 33. noted that the latch 21 is disposed above the web II so that a space 39V is formed between said web: and latch in which the `connector 25 is movable.

Issuing outwardly from the'bar28 is a loop 31 which is connected to a reversely disposed loopk 33. Theend of this loop has-issuing `from it a transversely extending catch 39. Thel end of this catch has a'ngerpiece 4I formed on it which is formed by merely enlarging the end of said catch and by means o which the catch may be manipulated. f The loops 31 and 38 form resilient means accommodating movement of the catch 39 Yin'a longitudinal direction;

The catch 39 projects throughabayonet slot 42- iritheflange I2 of the body I0. This slot has a longitudinal leg 43 and `a-transverse` leg 44 connected'therewith. The leg `44` extends away from the web I I. The resilient means of the latchis sosprung thatthe catch 39 is urged'toward the end of the leg 43. Also the catch-39 is bent out of the planeofth'e latch 21 so that said catch is urged toward'th'e end of the leg 44. Thus when' the catch'39 ismanipulated by iingerpieceM land moved toward-the leg 44,-said catch springs into' said leg and engages a shoulder 45 `formedby the' two legs 43 and 44. In such position, the catch is rmly -held from movement by the resiliency of the Yresilientmeans of the vlatch 21.

For cooperation with the catch`39, the ange2 I of the link I8 is formed with a slot 46 which, when the clasp is closed, is adapted to register With the leg 43 of slot 42. The slot 46 is open at one end as indicated at 41 which is the end facing leg'44 This construction-provides a hook 48' of slot 42. having a ledge 49 at the upper portion of the same and which is adapted to be engaged by the catch 39 to hold the latch in closed position.

The catch-39 is adapted to be automatically disengaged -from the shoulder 45v and moved into a position'to-enter leg43of slot 42 when the parts of the clasp are brought into closed position.- This is accomplished by means of a lug I formedY on the flange 2-I of link I8. The lug serves as an engaging member for engagement with the catch 39 and operates to disengage the lug 5I from saidposition shown in Fig. l. Such movement disengages the same from hook 48 and the resiliency of the latch urges it into leg 44 where the same engages the shoulder 45 as previously described.

ln Fig. 1 a modication of the latch is shown. The said latch greatly resembling the form shown in Fig. 6, the description of the similar parts will not be repeated and the same reference numerals preceded by the digit I will be used to designate the corresponding parts. vention, a single loop |52 is used between the bars |28 and |29 instead of the three loops 3|, 32 and 33usedwith the other form of the invention. Thispermits'of lengthening the loop |38 to give greater' resiliency to the catch |39 when such added resiliency is desired.

The advantages of my invention are manifest.

I The latch can be constructed at an extremely low It will lbeVV cost by-'stamping the same from resilient material. The latch is easily and quickly installed and is heldplace through the resiliency ofthe material from which itis constructed. The cost vofthe body and links ofthe clasp is not increased.

My improved latch extends laterallyof the clasp and is hence `not apt-to becomeunintentionally disengaged by coming in contact withA other objects. The catch mustbe manually manipulated to open the clasp and the clasp is easily closed by merely swinging thelinks into closing position.

A broad surface is formed -on the hook 'engaging' the catch therebyrequiringconsiderable movement of the catch to disengage the same.

Changes in the specic form loffmy inventionV as herein described, may be-made,withinthr-:scope` of what is claimed without vdeparting fromithe spirit of my invention.

'Having described my'invention, whatI claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l.` In a clasp,- a body having a web and a flange` issuing y'outwardly therefrom, an inner link lpivoted to one end of said body and adapted to overle said-Web, an outer linkpivoted to said inner` link and adapted to overlie said inner link, said' outer link having a iange adapted to be disposed adjacent the flange of lsaid body, said ange of the body having a bayonet slot therein iormedyvithv a longitudinal leg and a transverse leg, a resilient latch anchoredto said'body and disposedA between said web and inner link, said latch having -a catchv extending through s'aid slot, said catch beingV urged for movement toward both endsof said slot and an engaging member on the ilange of said outer link forming an open ended slotfor the reception of said catch, said slot being adapted to register withthe longitudinal leg of said bayonet slot when the clasp is closed, saidV catch when moved `into the transverse leg of the bayonet slot engaging said shoulder and a lug on the flange of said outer link adapted to engage said catch and move the same out of engagement with said shoulder to release said catch for movement along the longitudinal leg of said-bayonet slot and into the open ended slot of said link to latch the parts-in closed position.

2. In a clasp, a body, a link pivotally connected.

In this form of the inv 3. In a clasp, a body, a link pivotally connected thereto, said body and link when the clasp is closed having overlying parts, a slot in one of said parts, an open ended slot in the other of said parts and adapted to register with one end of the slot in the other part, a catch movable in the first named slot and when in one end thereof clearing the part having the open ended slot and resilient means urging said catch toward the other end of the first named slot and into said open ended slot to latch the parts in closed position.

4. In a clasp, a body, a link pivotally connected thereto, said body and link when the clasp is closed having overlying parts, a slot in one of said parts, a ledge on the other part extending along a portion of said slot at one end thereof and facing away from said body when the clasp is in closed position, a catch movable in the slot and when in one end thereof clearing said ledge and resilient means urging said catch toward the other end of said slot and into a position engageable with said ledge to hold the parts in closed position.

5. In a clasp, a body, a link pivotally connected thereto, said body and link when the clasp is closed having overlying parts, a slot in one of said parts, a ledge on the other part extending along a portion of said slot at one end thereof and facing away from said body when the clasp is in closed position, a catch movable in the slot and when in one end thereof clearing said ledge, resilient means urging said catch toward the other end of said slot and into a position engageable Awith said ledge to hold the parts in closed position, holding means for engagement with said latch to hold the same in the rst named end of the slot and clear of said ledge and releasing means on the part having the ledge for disengaging said catch from said holding means upon closing of the clasp.

- GALE A. ROUNDS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ritter Nov. 11, 1941 Number 

